Letter of Attorney

Description

Medieval letters of attorney are similar to their modern counterparts, as both are written to give an individual the power of attorney, or the right to represent someone else. Most examples from within the Atlas of a Medieval Life project include calling on a representative to deliver land ownership to someone else. The letter typically names who is calling on the attorney, then names the attorney, then the subject, then the matter that requires an attorney. For example, if land is being granted or seized, the parameters of the land and any previous owners would be described last. It ends with where the matter took place and any witnesses. Scholars use these letters to trace legal practices back to Roman law as well as tracking what tasks required an attorney, such as the division of an estate according to a will.